T5/T56 swap

[Kyle81berlinetta]

I have an 81 berlinetta camaro with a mildly built 350 bored .030. It currently has a th350 but im looking to do a manual swap. I got all,the parts needed to do a manual clutch manual swap with a saginaw 4 spees transmission, but I think id like to step up into puting a 3rd or 4th gen camaro t5 five speed or t56 six speed tranny behind my power plant. Ive heard that the bellhousing will bolt right up to my 350, but Im not sure if there is anything else I need for this swap.

 

[BonzoHansen]

I can't speak to the T5, but the t56 will depend on what one you use. The lt1 version will need a hydraulic throwout and i think a special flywheel, plus all the other lt1 specific bell and clutch parts. The ls1 version has more install flexibility. Depending on what bell you use you can run hyd or mech linkage.

Both may need some floor cutting to work. Oh, and what rear gears are you running?

 

[Kyle81berlinetta]

I can't speak to the T5, but the t56 will depend on what one you use. The lt1 version will need a hydraulic throwout and i think a special flywheel, plus all the other lt1 specific bell and clutch parts. The ls1 version has more install flexibility. Depending on what bell you use you can run hyd or mech linkage.

Both may need some floor cutting to work. Oh, and what rear gears are you running?

To be honest, im not sure what rear gears are currently in the vehicle. Tpday im hoping to have time to pull some plugs and do a leak down test due to some exsessive blow by, and if i get the chance to go out to the shop ill check for that and post my rear tire size.

 

[BonzoHansen]

Rear gears are important when selecting a trans, both first gear and final gear. A t56 really needs at least a 3.73 in most cases, or maybe 3.55 if 6th is numerically higher than .5:1

 

[black_aerocoupe]

Gearing is a big factor on happiness and drivability.

Figure out what gears you have, first off. Figure what you want it to drive like. 3.73 and a third gen V8 T5 are a nice combo.

Guys who are overcammed, or underpowered aren't going to pull a 3.42 and 0.50 sixth gear happily.

So, sort out your end goal and plan accordingly. There is used, which can have hidden costs, and there is the new T56 Magnum, which is a TR6060, and suits a lot of swaps due to all the options it presents.

 

[Kyle81berlinetta]

I looked at my rear axle code and got "2PU G252 1" but everything I saw onling for decoding didnt match this. It was on the forward facing passenger side. After spining the tire and counting driveline spins it looked like the driveline spun 2.73 to one turn of the tire.

 

[Kyle81berlinetta]

I could do a rear end ring and ponion swamp to 3.73 gears or maybe even like 4.11s? I have another posi axle from a 2ng gen camaro with 3.43 gears

 

[badazz81z28]

A set of rear gears $200....A transmission $1000-$3000....Pick the transmission you want then swap the gears to match. You don't want 4.11s with the T56 unless it has the .5 6th gear. I have a magnum with the .64 6th gear and I'm not thrilled with the 3.89s I have. I can swap the rear gears a lot easier then swapping a transmission or swapping the gear with in it.

 

[iraqivet]

I'm bolting a T56 to a '86 TPI 350. They make a flywheel for the Gen 1 SBC 350. The set up uses a T56 Clutch and a Conversion set to make the '79 camaro clutch pedal hydraulic. This is for a T56 out of a '94 Firebird Formula. The T56 for the LT1 is it's own beast. The throw out bearing is pulled, not pushed. When the LS1 was bolted to the T56, they changed it back to pushing the throw out bearing. So if you pick up a T56, they were used on other manufacturer's cars as well, so know what they are selling.

 

[Kyle81berlinetta]

Wouldnt having a numerically higher rear gear (4.11, 4.56, ect) make the .5 or .64 6th gear easier to turn?